I was printing, ripping, and crafting…and thankfully he received an invite

to the AT&T golf thingy in Pebble Beachso he was gone the whole day and I could finish up!

It’s not like this craft really takes that long…

if you don’t have kids,...and you are not making it up as you go along.

The inspiration for my birthday chandelier comes from the

book and burlap wreaths I have been seeing…

but as far as I know this is my own “creation.”

Even as I was making this and especiallywhen I saw the finished project,I could totally see this becoming so many things…baby and bridal shower decor...made in colorful paper as party décor...made out of a children’s book for a nursery...Endless possibilities {and I will milk it for all it is worth}!

This is what it looked like on Saturday night,hanging over the cake.

DIY Birthday Chandelier

SUPPLIES

Wire coat hanger (or wreath frame) and wire snips/cutters if you use the coat hanger.

Exacto knife {or preferred cutting/ripping tool}.

Ruler (metal)

Scissors

Hole punch (I used the small hole punch)

Glue sticks (glue dots could probably work well too).

Old book (you will be tearing it apart) or scrapbook paper cut to size or sheet music.

Ribbon (I used ¼” ribbon and a thin string to complete my chandelier)

String or fishing line

Cardstock in preferred color (You could use double sided scrapbook paper, but I found it helpful to use solid color cardstock…anything you can utilize both sides of the paper is good, so that you do not have to cut double mats to cover up the back side of the paper).

Photos

INSTRUCTIONSNOTE: For my purposes I will be referring to a wire hanger and an old book – {not a wreath form and scrapbook paper}1. Cut the hanger part of the hanger off on both sides

2. Using the wire snips or pliers make hooks at each end of the hanger. Hook them together and them use your hands to form a circle with the hanger. It does no have to be a perfect circle…but it should resemble one.

3. With an exacto knife, cut the pages from an old book. The size of the wreath and the size of the folds you do in the next step will determine how many pages you need.

4. Fan or accordion fold (lengthwise) each page. A large fold will make a fuller look, a smaller fold will be a tighter look (see photos for example). I used a larger fold for my chandelier. {If you are going to pink, tear or dip the edges* do it now}

5. Once the page is folded, fold it in half, and run a glue stick along length of folded paper.

6. Sandwich the hanger between the folded page…the hanger should go right into the crease of the page. For extra hold, I stapled mine too.

7. Continue placing and gluing until your wreath is full.8. Before fanning out your folded pages, cut 3 lengths of ribbon approximately 36 inches long (you may want more lengths to add some flourish to the wreath like I did). Visualize a triangle on your wreath and tie (knot) a length of ribbon in these places. I liked placing one of the ribbons at the closing point/hooks of the hanger. Leave long tails so that you can take the 3 lengths and tie them together (hold them up and visualize the lengths being equal and tie a knot). NOTE: For Step 8 and for step 9, I am showing your the ribbon placement without the paper attached to the wreath frame. It is much easier to attach the ribbon with the paper already on the wreath...as it hold the ribbon in place.

9. If you are going to be hanging photos or anything else from the chandelier, you may want to attach the fishing line now as well. You can do as many lines as you want. I did two, dividing the wreath frame in half, each way. See NOTE from step 8.

10. Glue The top of the folded paper and then fan out and glue the two halves together.

11. With wreath still flat (or…I actually found it helpful to hang the wreath for this stage of creating), glue the top of the folded pages. Then open the folds to create a rosette and glue the sides together.Repeat as many times as necessary.NOTE: Top, a larger accordion fold. Bottom, a smaller accordion fold.

12. When the glue on the wreath is dry you can hang your photos.13. Tie photos to the wreath frame and along the strings you crisscrossed across the frame. Hang them at different levels for interest. Stand back every now and then to reassess positioning. You will also have to balance out the photos so the chandelier hangs straight at this stage.

Photos

On the computer, print out your photos. I found it helpful to print them all out in the same size using Microsoft Picture Manager, wallet size photos.

Cut mats out of cardstock or paper. I found it helpful to use solid color cardstock and then I could put photos on both sides.

Cut photos out and affix to mats (I used glue, but you could use scrapbook tape runner)

Punch a hole in the center top.

Cut lengths of ribbon or thin string (I cut them about 36” long…enough to play with) and then tie to mounted/matted photos.

Add Some Sparkle!Dip the edges in glue and then glitter for some sparkle!Hang a few crystals for some glam! Pinking shear or tear the edges for some additional detail.

Oh yeah, did I mention the best part...this cost N-O-T-H-I-N-G! And how FAB is it!

Happy DIYing!Holly

PS-I have a ton more photos if anyone want to try this and wants to see more....Just let me know!

This is so cool! You know I love your Blog. So, I nominated you for a "beautiful blog" award! You can jump over to my blog to redeem or you can just know that you have a beautiful web site that I believe all women need to read!

I love this! How special and creative it is! I will remember it for my husband, or childrens birthday. I wish I had known about this for my parents recent 50th wedding anniversary. With a little modification it could have taken on a very "anniversary" feel and really blessed them with a display of pictures of their 50 years together. So glad I have you bookmarked so I can come back when I need this again!Thanks for so many wonderful ideas! Beautiful pictures too!

That is just SO freakin' cool! I may adapt this for Easter...would be fun to use pastel colored paper that I've let the kiddo draw on. Then use diecut or hand cut egg shapes to affix the photos to...fun stuff! You are so stinkin' AWESOME!!!!!

I'm late arriving, but have to say I love this idea. I hung checkered hearts from my chandelier for valentines. Loved it so much that like you I can see me doing something like that for other occasions. Love the use of thepaper and the family photos. Everything about this project says Winner! Thank you for sharing this great idea. Oh, and the cake looks delicious!

How fun! Yesterday was my husband's birthday. He is of the same "no fuss, no attention, don't buy me anything" mold. I made him one of those throws that you tie the ends. He always watches sports on the big screen in the basement and it is colder down there. He was a bit shocked at my "crafty" gift, but he was asleep in his chair under it watching the Olympics. It is hard to find things for the men.

That is so cool. Found your blog through the Friday Follow and thought I'd take a look around. This idea is awesome and I may just have to give this a shot. Not for hubby, but for his mom. This would be really neat with pictures of the grandkids. And her birthday is just around the corner.

I'm so glad you were the FB on SITS today because otherwise I would have never seen this incredible idea! I think I'm going to adapt it for my little dd's first birthday in a few months. It would be perfect! Gave you a thumbs up on stumble upon and added this to my favorites. Thank you!

Thanks for stopping by! I read and appreciate all of your sweet words and the time you have spent on my blog. I try hard to respond to comments and visit your blogs... eventually, but I will be honest life is pretty crazy right now!

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Holly Lefevre

Baking, crafting, making a mess or making beautiful things - that is a
day in the life at 504 Main. I make simple crafts and overly complicated ones
too. I want to be organized...but that has not happened yet. My husband
says "baking isn't my thing" but I just came in first place in a baking
competition...so that all kind of proves you never know what is going to
happen at 504 Main! http://www.504main.com

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All images and text is copyrighted 2009 to present by Holly Lefevre (or appropriately credited authors/photographer). So please don't "take," ask nicely...and with reciprocal links, a nice comment, and possibly some coffee I just might share. Photos of the kids are not for sharing. Thanks for keeping it friendly!

DISCLOSURE

Most products I blog about are because I LOVE them and I am receiving no compensation whatsoever. I will not recommend a service/blog/product that I feel does not meet my standards or expectations. From time to time, Holly Lefevre and/or 504 Main receives products or services free of charge for a review or product demonstration. My opinions are always my own.